I have trouble reaching the safety due to short thumbs. I was looking at adding a Battle Arms Development "crank" lever, but now I'm also seeing short-throw safety levers as an option. It isn't clear to me, but do you need a special lower to use the short-throw levers, or can they be made to work in any lower?

short throw safety selectors should work on any lower and there are a lot of options out there.  I had the same issue as you but instead of a short throw, I installed a DS arms ambi safety since I'm a lefty and it's working out great so far.  it was definitely worth the 20 bucks.

 

I've never handled a short throw safety but was always concerned that i would put it on safe or fire by bumping into the lever.  As a lefty I also wondered if by being in the 45 degree fire position the lever would be digging into my hand

BAD 45* requires a special lower.

 

Noveske makes a 60* safety that works in a standard lower.

 

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/274427/noveske-sts-60-degree-ambidextrous-safety-selector-ar-15-lr-308-black

Have you considered disengaging the safety with our index finger and using an ambi safety? Your index finger should be off the trigger anyway and it is longer then your thumb. 

Have you considered disengaging the safety with our index finger and using an ambi safety? Your index finger should be off the trigger anyway and it is longer then your thumb. 

 

^ this is what I do and it works out great.

Have you considered disengaging the safety with our index finger and using an ambi safety? Your index finger should be off the trigger anyway and it is longer then your thumb. 

 

EXCELLENT!!

Thanks all

 

Have you considered disengaging the safety with our index finger and using an ambi safety? Your index finger should be off the trigger anyway and it is longer then your thumb. 

 

In the back of my mind I was wondering if there was a point with an ambi safety for a right-handed shooter, and you just answered that question! I think I might go with the BAD ambi safety, try a crank for the left side and regular length safety for the right and just see which works better.

Thanks all

 

 

In the back of my mind I was wondering if there was a point with an ambi safety for a right-handed shooter, and you just answered that question! I think I might go with the BAD ambi safety, try a crank for the left side and regular length safety for the right and just see which works better.

I have recently started using my trigger finger to engage the safety and am slowly converting my guns to BAD ASS Ambi safeties with a standard lever on the left and the short lever on the right.

 

IMO a regular length safety is to long on the right side (for a right handed shooter). It gets under your trigger finger and changes the way if feels to hold the rifle. Do not like. The short lever works better.

wow the Bad ass safety is expensive at $60 but i'm sure it's worth it since it's customizable

 

the DS Arms ambi I got was only $20 and it looks like the same exact design except for the screw and different lever sizes.  I wonder if the lever options are compatible with mine...

I've been considering getting the Strike one for my race gun: http://www.strikeindustries.com/shop/index.php/rifle-accessories/ar/lower-parts-kit/polymer-selector-switch-10pcs.html

 

Its $40, has lots of lever included at that price, but it is plastic, not that I can imagine how I would break them. 

I personally use a BAD-ASS with a standard lever on left side and a crank lever or the right side. I use my trigger finger to engage the safety which works great for me. I use the crank because it's not as bulky and allows me grab the lever easily with the side of a "hook" finger instead of requiring finer motor skills of a fingertip. Basically just use the side of my finger to catch the knub of the crank. I love it, and if you don't like a certain lever, you can exchange them with BAD for different ones.

I just put on BADD-ASS ambi with standard on left and short on right, have yet to try it

I love my Badd lever, and badd ass.